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Ohio families seek action on adoptions from Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Kate Milliman of Columbus (at left) and Brenda and Randy Webb of Wooster rest on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol between meeting with Congress members to discuss their stalled efforts to adopt children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(Sabrina Eaton, The Plain Dealer)

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Carrying signs with photos of children they plan to adopt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dozens of adoptive parents from Ohio and other states are visiting the U.S. Capitol this week in hopes of speeding up Congo's stalled adoption process.

The impoverished central African country last year stopped issuing exit permits for children adopted by foreigners, citing concerns about the children's health and safety. Congolese embassy representatives on Wednesday declined to answer questions from The Plain Dealer about the country's adoption policies.

The government's action left several hundred U.S. families with pending adoptions in a limbo they'd like their congressmen to help them resolve. Many expressed fear their adoptive children will die of malnutrition, malaria or other ailments in Congo if the impasse isn't doesn't end quickly. They said at least two of the 350 children whose adoptions are affected by the problem have died during the wait.

Kate Milliman of Columbus said she and her husband wanted to adopt a child from Congo because it has many orphans who need homes. Their adoption of five-year old Aimee has been finalized and they obtained a visa to bring her to the United States, but the Congolese government won't let her leave even though she has medical issues such as malaria and bilateral hip dysplasia that need treatment.

Milliman said that the months of delays imposed after the country stopped issuing exit letters are "an enormous amount of time to a developing child, and we still don't really understand the root cause of the suspension or when it may be lifted."

"We need our government officials to make ending this crisis a top priority," said Milliman. "I'm grateful for all the support we received from our Ohio senators and representatives so far. But it's not enough until our children are home."

Brenda and Randy Webb of Wooster have officially adopted five-year-old Renee Noel and obtained a U.S. visa for her, but they have also been denied an exit letter. Their daughter and son-in-law have adopted a child from Congo that they were able to bring home.

"We are legally her parents, but we are unable to parent her," Brenda Webb said.

Along with Milliman, the pair met with Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman and staffers for Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they planned to meet with Columbus-area congress members Steve Stivers, a Republican, and Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, as well as Wadsworth GOP congress member Jim Renacci.

Portman told the families he plans to meet with the nation's ambassador to discuss resolving the 17 Ohio adoption cases affected by the problem.

In April, dozens of legislators including Portman, Brown, Renacci, Beatty, Columbus-area Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi and Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan sent a letter to the country's president and prime minister that urged the nation to speed up adoptions for children whose health is at risk and to issue exit permits for children whose adoption has been finalized. Portman's office has not received a response to that letter.

"Many children affected by this suspension require medical care and others have come to know and love their adoptive families," said a statement from Portman. "I'll continue my work to help bring these children home."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brought up the adoption issue with Congolese President Joseph Kabila during a May visit to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"We want to enable Congolese children, who seek to, to be able to be matched with parents abroad who are eager to provide them with a secure and happy future," Kerry said at a press briefing in Kinshasa. "I have seen this firsthand. My sister has adopted a young child from China. I know how positive and important this can be for everybody concerned, and I think it's an issue that's important to all of us as a matter of basic human decency."

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